train games

Sensible Train Spotting 1995 train computer game

Sensible Train Spotting (1995, United Kingdom)

Language: English

Train-spotting was (and I guess for some people still is) a hobby that was started in the cradle of the railways - United Kingdom. Since all the engines had individual numbers given by the manufacturers and they were clearly placed on the sides and front of the engines people begun to record the numbers of engines they have stumbled upon and thus build a whole history of the engines since they could have been spotted in different parts of the country. On first glance it seem fairly entertaining (especially at the beginning of 20th century when steam engines were rather rare and spectacular sight). But with time and increase in number of trains being in use the hobby deteriorated and even become sort of a joke as extremely boring way of spending the time.

The game Sensible Train Spotting was itself developed as sort of a joke - in mid-1990s Commodore Amiga computers were in decline and one of the most recognizable developers, Sensible Software, known from dynamic games like Sensible Soccer or Cannon Fodder, was about to cease the production for Amiga. And Sensible Train Spotting was their farewell gift to the fans - with a thermos of hot tea we seat on the platform of train station and watch the passing trains. We have list of the train symbols at the bottom of the screen and each time we spot one of them we simply cross that symbol out. And... that’s about it. If we finish the card (cross out all of the symbols) we move on to higher level, where we have to spot even more trains. Oh, wait, have I mention the thermos? Well, in that case I’ve told the whole story of Sensible Train Spotting - a simple and boring game about simple and boring hobby.